The Empathy Gap

Masculinity and the Courage to Change

In The Bro Code and Generation M, filmmaker Thomas Keith examined how American culture bombards young men with sexist and misogynistic messages. In The Empathy Gap, he looks more closely at the ways these messages short-circuit men's ability to empathize with women, respect them as equals, and take feminism seriously.

Keith begins by exploring some of the key messages about manhood that boys absorb from the culture -- that they should acquire material wealth, meet conflict with aggression, harden themselves, suppress all human emotion except anger, and view women primarily as sexual objects -- then argues that these messages not only devalue women but also undercut men's innate capacity for caring and empathy. Along the way, he draws fascinating parallels between sexism and racism, spelling out how each is rooted in cultural norms that discourage empathy, and shows how men who break with these norms live happier and healthier lives.

Comments (6)

Joy

Brampton Library•9 months ago

Men are the enemy of men, not women. Toxic masculinity (and toxic femininity) is killing men and making men kill women at astronomical rates. How much longer will we accept this behaviour? I wish for all men the healing that comes from learning how to feel and connect with themselves and with ...Read more

Men are the enemy of men, not women. Toxic masculinity (and toxic femininity) is killing men and making men kill women at astronomical rates. How much longer will we accept this behaviour? I wish for all men the healing that comes from learning how to feel and connect with themselves and with women as human beings first rather than the macho caricature of men that they believe will make them happy. Clearly it doesn't.

Some very interesting sentiments about feminism. I like that it addresses heavily how masculinity is tied to feminism and why it is in fact something that is positive for men - not just women!

Cuck

University of Louisiana Lafayette•2 years ago

Great message! All men should feel bad about being men!

Anonymous

University of Newcastle•2 years ago

Agreed. I had no idea what a monster I am until I watched this.

Alex

University of British Columbia•10 months ago

Yes, because trolls on the internet don't go out of their way to avoid what makes them uncomfortable. How else could one maintain hard to justify sentiments, than by doing things, like reading books, research or watching docs that challenge their beliefs. Trolls rarely have a nagging sense of ...Read more

Yes, because trolls on the internet don't go out of their way to avoid what makes them uncomfortable. How else could one maintain hard to justify sentiments, than by doing things, like reading books, research or watching docs that challenge their beliefs. Trolls rarely have a nagging sense of weakness/inferiority because they know that they're too scared to think critically about their own convictions, rather than those of others.

Good message, though focusing on the editing of the film detracted from my overall positive opinion. I'm happy to be a feminist and a man who is changing the perspective from hyper-masculine to wholesome.

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